North Gwinnett News

California-based Archer Aviation is planning to build an $118,000 electric aircraft plant near Atlanta that could mean up to 1,000 jobs for the area, according to a recent report by FOX 5 Atlanta. 

The company announced Monday it planned to build its aircraft adjoining an airport in Covington, Georgia, the report states, taking into consideration the site's local workers, ability to conduct test flights, affordable construction and good highway, rail and air connections.

"Our eVTOL (electrical vehicle takeoff and landing) technology can transform how urban and rural communities live and commute and this factory can create pathways to highly skilled manufacturing jobs and other ladders of social and economic opportunity," Archer CEO Adam Goldstein said in a statement.

According to the report, Archer Aviation is among a growing number of companies working to build electric air taxis, with the company's overall plan involving a battery-powered vertical takeoff and landing craft with six propellers that holds up to four passengers and a pilot.

Archer’s overall plan centers on the concept that such craft could be used for short flights, especially in urban areas, prompting United Airlines to recently announce that it plans to fly the craft from downtown Manhattan to United’s hub at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, cutting a trip that can take an hour by car in congested traffic to 10 minutes, the report states.

With a goal of landing Federal Aviation Administration certification by 2024, Archer said it wants to produce 650 aircraft per year at the Georgia site, with Automotive firm Stellantis, owner of Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram, providing manufacturing and engineering help toward a goal of scaling up to 2,300 per year.